03/26/2026
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, invites you to attend a Doctoral Dissertation defense by Jack Cimorelli on: "Understanding the Role of Hydrogen Integration in Designing Reliable Renewable Energy Microgrid Systems."

Candidate Name: Jack Cimorelli
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Time: 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Location: Southwick 240

Committee:

  • Advisor: Christopher Niezrecki, Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Xinfang Jin, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas
  • David Willis, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Jie Zhang, Professor, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas
  • Hunter Mack, Professor, Ph.D., Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Brief Abstract: 

The role of hydrogen produced by renewables within microgrid systems has recently gained interest as a zero-carbon option for energy storage. Many microgrids do not have access to a utility electrical grid, therefore diesel generators are often used as the primary solution to provide continuous power generation. However, this becomes costly at current fuel prices and does not contribute towards global decarbonization efforts. Wind turbines and solar panels can provide inexpensive, zero-emission electricity supply but are hindered by intermittency. Renewables paired with energy storage can increase the reliability and sustainability of a microgrid system that may perform as well if not better than a diesel counterpart. There are several challenges that must be addressed for the proper implementation of a renewable energy-based microgrid with hydrogen energy storage. 

First, while current microgrid simulation tools have laid the foundation for renewable microgrid analysis, they often lack detailed component configuration options or a comprehensive hydrogen library making analysis of hydrogen-based energy systems difficult. Second, different renewable power and energy storage technologies each offer benefits and drawbacks, especially when geospatial factors are considered. Wind and solar resource profiles fluctuate daily, weekly, and yearly and the performance of energy storage mediums each depend on the duration of storage needed and overall efficiency. Third, any renewably based solution must be benchmarked to traditional power generation systems from a cost and carbon footprint perspective. 

This dissertation aims to address these challenges by 1) developing a modeling tool that integrates renewable energy for power generation and energy storage, with flexible component configurations and an expanded hydrogen infrastructure library to enable comprehensive performance and cost analysis; 2) determining under what operating conditions is wind or solar energy more appropriate, comparing different energy storage technologies of compressed hydrogen, electrochemical batteries, and compressed air to find the optimal solution for a given location; and 3) benchmarking current diesel systems to renewable systems with energy storage based on cost and carbon footprint. A remote naval base off the coast of southern California is used as a case study to validate the methodology. For the site evaluated, a wind‑based power generation system achieved a lower cost than a purely solar system while meeting demand 100 percent of the time when paired with energy storage, and the analysis further shows that a well‑designed wind‑hydrogen or solar‑hydrogen microgrid can reduce the cost per unit of energy by 21.2% and 9.1%, respectively, compared to diesel power generation. This research helps support the improved design of microgrids looking to transition away from fossil fuels and incorporating renewables for resilient power generation systems that have no grid connection.